Leading PI: Olga Kalinina (HIPS), Robert Bals (Saarland University Hospital)
Lung infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and COVID-19 cause significant illness and death. Current treatments involve systemic or inhaled antimicrobial substances, but these can be toxic and ineffective against new pathogens or resistance mechanisms. Multi-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are particularly challenging to treat. Changes in the pulmonary microbiome also contribute to non-communicable diseases like chronic obstructive lung disease, asthma, and lung cancer. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are needed. The project aims to develop a novel therapeutic approach using therapeutic living materials containing microorganisms. Bioinformatic analysis of metagenomic data from patients with lung disease and healthy individuals will identify beneficial commensal bacteria and pathogen resistance mechanisms. Therapeutic bacteria, either commensals or producers of targeted antimicrobials, will be developed and tested in preclinical disease models.
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